Egads

Part of speech: interjection

Definitions

1. An informal interjection expressed when someone is startled, amazed, or dismayed by something unexpected
2. A mild exclamation used to show astonishment, alarm, or disappointment at a sudden turn of events
3. A lighthearted outburst of surprise or exasperation, often used to express wonder or consternation

Etymology: "Egads" is a minced oath, a disguised form of an exclamation that would have sounded improper if spoken in full. It comes from "ye gods", an old expression of astonishment in which "ye" is the archaic word for "you" used as a plural address, so the phrase literally invokes the gods. Over time the spelling and sound drifted, with "ye gods" becoming "egad" and then "egads", the plural-looking ending likely a later addition that made the word feel like a fixed exclamation. Speakers softened religious phrases like this to avoid taking the name of God or the gods in vain. Other examples follow the same pattern, such as "gosh" for "God" and "gee" for "Jesus", which show how an oath could be reshaped until its original meaning was hard to hear.

Synonyms: gadzooks, gosh, golly, gee, zounds